DC, the Catholic Church, & Gay Marriage

Now those are three things that one generally does not expect to see in a subject line. Yet here it is? Why?

Well, not so long ago DC passed a law that said that gay marriage will be allowed. Well, we've all read my previous blogs on the gay marriage subject and know that I'm a rather large proponent of it.

In fact, two of my best friends are gay. A couple, one of whom I knew before I even officially moved to DC. Wonderful, beyond wonderful men. Men that I am proud to call my family, family that takes care of me, loves me, and will always stand by my side. They are getting married some time in 2011 and, yes, I will be in the wedding.

Well, the Catholic Church in DC muttered and moaned, made threats, and the like. Threats involving taking away social services from the city.

I am appalled to have to report, should you not already have read about it, that they are, in fact, going to do so.

What are they pulling first? Foster services. Here's an article from The Washington Times. I kid you not.

I could go on and on about the disenfranchised, about children, about making really crappy threats in the first place.

But I'm stumped. I'm just blown away at the bigotry, the prejudice, the sheer hatred that this church is imposing on its congregations. They are NOT teaching forgiveness, love, and kindness. They're teaching how to share hate, how to discriminate, how to oppress.

I'm thoroughly fascinated time and again by how different sects choose to read the bible. Yes, we all know the holy book has an insane amount of discrepancies. And at the end of the day, all I can ask you to consider is this: do you want to read that book to learn and preach hatred, or do you want to read that book to learn and preach love?

At the end of the day, I don't judge. That's for the big guy upstairs. I'm going to support my fellow man, I'm going to fight for my fellow man, and I'm going to love my fellow man. And before I get ripped by my Women's Studies colleagues, my fellow woman too.

Ultimately, I will go before God. I will stand before Him with nothing but love in my heart and knowing that I did what I did, that I stood for the disenfranchised and the oppressed with full knowledge of what may come my way. Because what is Heaven if it's a place of hate? Of judgment by the people who are allowed access through the gates? If Hell is where the people who stand up and fight their fellow man go, then I will be proud to stand among them. Because there is hope for a better tomorrow when you stand. When you teach your children to stand.

There is a difference between right and wrong. And even if you think that the actions of others are wrong, then my question becomes, what's worse? Them for doing the action? Or you for judging that action to the point of perpetrating hatred, bigotry, and prejudice? I cannot control my fellow person, I can only control me.

And my control of myself is to love. To exist. To support. To find it within me to always have the strength to hope for a better tomorrow where we exist side by side in some version of harmony.

Do you have it in you to stand with me? To hold hands with me? To believe in that better tomorrow with me?

Do you believe in love?

Get Sparky!

If you want a preview of the book I talked about in my last blog (and win me some sparkpoints and who knows what else), go to the link below and enjoy!

http://book.sparkpeople.com/book.asp?u=MOHO13

The Spark

I have been on a web site since May of last year, a nutrition/fitness/lifestyle change web site. It's a free site that emphasizes community while making healthy choices in fitness and nutrition.

Called SparkPeople, I have loved the community part of it since the day I joined. But, I will full well admit, I haven't been very sparky in that I didn't particularly well follow the plan or I cheated on it. It definitely goes to show that it's often not the plan that doesn't work, but the us following the plan!

Well, they have put out a book, "The Spark". I have read the intro chapters to it and LOVED it. The stories of excuses all made sense to me and the ways suggested to motivate yourself made even more sense to me. In the book they have a 28-day plan that differs from their online 12-week plan. I think the 12-week plan intimidated me a bit and that's why I was never particularly religious about following anything.

I should pause to note, when I say plan, I mean a suggested outline of meals that you can modify or just not use. They are big proponents of learning portion sizes and simply how to live your best life while eating healthy and incorporating fitness.

Back to the book!

I have started week 1 of the 28-day plan and I am far more excited for this than I ever have been because the goals for this week are doable. They make sense. They're small changes that I can make.

Everything about this book just makes sense. So if you're looking to lose weight, eat better, or encourage someone else to be healthier, this book is a solid investment. No more of the crap that doesn't work, or if it does, not for long. This is about changing the way you look at food and finding what works and what doesn't. It's process, one that will ultimately better you.

Trust me, this is the book to buy when you're looking to make a positive change in your health.

P.S. if you decide to join the site, (a) give me credit please (I'm all about the sparkpoints) and (b) add me as a friend. My username is: moho13.

Almost Post Fall Semester...

Again, not a huge update. All presentations are DONE!!! I did well on all of them I believe and take much comfort in that. I am currently taking a break from a lovely little something called comprehensive exams. Essentially, it is an exit exam of essays that I am required to pass in order to graduate. Two down, one to go. I'm feeling good about them, so can't complain about that!

Otherwise, tomorrow I have one paper to finish and during the week next week, I have two papers to write. Then... done! For the semester that is. All I have next semester is applying for jobs during the year, one class, writing my thesis, working a job, and hopefully picking up another one. Not too busy at all! Really!

Time to go bang... out the last essay. What did you think I was going to say??? I have no life for such things. Please. Keep it clean people.

Insert Witty Title Here

There is not much wittiness to post on.

Four presentations, three papers, and a test all before Thanksgiving.

My exit exams the weekend after.

I don't believe complete insanity explains it well enough...

NEM: After

I walked a total of 4.5 miles.

My feet are dirty. My body hurts. I have a major sunburn. I had a fiasco of a time finding the guys and gals I am ever proud to march with. I was hungry.

But every single minute of this day was worth it.

Not a spot of rain since yesterday. A beautiful day. And in the midst of this beautiful day with no rain was a rainbow.

I stood in awe looking at this sight. I sat in church this morning, teaching Sunday School, thinking about hatred and whether or not there is a place for it in this world. And I looked at this rainbow shining high above the sun and I knew that there simply isn't a place for that hatred. Sadly, it exists, but its use is very little.

I wish I could share with you the power of being in this place at this time. Regardless of whether you agree with LGBTQ rights, the moment was one of strength and solidarity. Every single one of these people was there to show support for equality, for rights, for justice. They stood up with one voice and demanded that this is their time.

And I am imminently proud that I stood with these all of these people and demanded it for my fellow man and woman who do not have the rights I do. Gay, straight, Black, white, Christian, Jewish, punk, classic, big boobs, little boobs, ba-donk-a-donk butts, flat butts... you name it, somebody was there representing it, standing in solidarity for equality.

Yes, every moment was worth whatever I may be physically feeling now because I stood with a great many people who inspired me and reminded me that we will have a better tomorrow because of the amazing people fighting for it.

Marching for an Equal Tomorrow

Tomorrow is a big day for DC and for the country. The National Equality March is happening, marching from downtown to the Capitol. Throughout this weekend there are numerous events, panels, and social hours taking place - quite the undertaking.

I read in someone's facebook status yesterday that "marching for gay rights is passé." I also received an e-mail from the church I teach Sunday School at that I will be recognized at the 11:00 a.m. service as a new member of the church.

I will not be going. I will not be going because marching for my brothers and sisters is not passé. I will not be going because I believe in equality and I belive in love. We must stand together to fight bigotry and hatred. Rich, poor, Asian, African, Caucasion, handicapped, male, female, gay, straight... whatever stratifications we fall into, there are still people who are being treated as second-class citizens in a country that purports to be free.

There are those out there that use the Holy Books (place your religion of choice here) as a shield for their hatred and wield a sword of prejudice to cut people down. I refuse to do so. If you want to talk to me about religion, I'll talk to you about love. If you want to talk to me about spirituality, I'll talk to you about love. If you want to talk to me about being an aethiest, I'll STILL talk to you about love. Because I believe in the tenets of this country and the religion I practice (one that I will never boost onto another). I believe in equality and love. We won't hold a shield because we don't need one. We won't hold a sword because our hands will be held together and high in the air because we are proud and we believe that justice will someday stand for us.

I am proud to be called a straight ally. I am proud that tomorrow I will march to continue to bring attention to a plight that is not dead and certainly is not unfashionable. Because this is not about the cause of the moment, this is about people.

If you'd like to march with me (and thousands of others) tomorrow, send me a message. If you can't march with me tomorrow, then think of those thousands of people who will be and hope for a peaceful standing of what is right.

If you'd like more information on the event itself, please go to: www.NationalEqualityMarch.com